The Shawshank Redemption

[Golden Badtz]

I just saw the Shawshank Redemption for the first time of my life yesterday night because many of you schmoes say it's good, so I went to the local Blockbuster and rented it.
I'm pretty sure there is already a thread on this movie somewhere on the boards, but what the hell.

Here is my review:
THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION - 1994
Tim Robbins - Morgan Freeman

The movie strongly starts off with a good old 1930's song that right away put me in the mood of watching the film and then we get a slow introduction of the main character, the enigmatic Andy Dufresne who is introduced to us during his trial and at the same time during the act for which he is accused of having committed.
He is sentenced for life at a high security penitentiary called Shawshank.
At first he doesn't feel comfortable, he never talks and when he does he isn't liked for it (reference to the "what was his name" question in the cafeteria), he slowly gets adjusted and makes himself a new friend: Red, an Irish con who "can get you things". Andy asks for a small rock hammer.
Andy, who worked in a bank before being convicted makes new friends by helping one of the guards keeping 35 thousand bucks his dead brother left him, in return he gets free beers for himself and his friends.
Slowly but effectively he becomes welcome in the prison, he has friends but is constantly abused by the "sisters", a gang of fuckers who keep on beating and shitting on him.
Being a very smart and cultivated man he is send on to work at the prison library containing about 100 books, there he meets Brooks, a 50 year old convict who took a bird (kinda suck in bird identification.. so I don't know which one that is.. maybe a crow.. but whatever) under his wing when still a baby.

This movie is very touching, I can't say there were any particular deaths where you just felt like bursting into tears, but there where moments very well shot and described, for me, the part when Brooks gets out of prison and we hear his voice narrating the letter he wrote to his fellow convicts mad me wanna burst into tears, because Frank Darabont does such a great job describing the pain Brooks has, the constant pushing around by his boss at the super market, he was in prison for 50 years and finally sees new cars, everything moves so fast over there.
This passage also made me realizes that we don't respect enough what we have, Brooks had nothing and .. I don't know, I can't explain it.. just that after seeing this film, I took some resolution for me.. I decided to change my behavior and take everything I have for granted.

The movie is joined with a wonderful score, a moving score that really really fits in incredibly into the movie context. Both actors Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman do a great job talking about the ways of life and what is "hope” also Morgan Freeman is great as the narrator of the story.
The can notice the slow change of everybody's behavior in the prison, Red who is pathetically trying to get out with the same speech all the time but is always rejected however at the end, he just speaks his mind, says the truth, and let's the parole officers decide.

Stephen King really impressed me this time, instead of writing his sci-fi horror movies, he wrote a touching story of an innocent man fighting for his liberty and in the end, when he finally get it, we can feel how happy he is.

As a result, this movie, is really the greatest movie I've ever seen, unlike The Majestic, Darabont makes an incredible job, every single detail about this film I adore.

My score for The Shawshank Redemption is 10/10

what do you schmoes think of it ?

[bob]

No comment.

[Briare Rabbit]

Originally posted by bob
No comment.

Mine:

The Shawshank Redemption
1994
8/10
Directed by: Frank Darabont
Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman
Rated: R for obscenity, language, violence and rape.

Plot Crunch:
The age old story of the guy who didn't kill his wife yet is sent to jail anyway is relived here with a new twist.

Critique:
Tim Robbins was amazing. That's all I can say. He plays the softspoken guys crazily. The man is brilliant. This and The Player are among my favorites films of his. Anyway, I must say that I was startled by how good the Shawshank Redemption was. I wasn't expecting much, I'll say that. Morgan Freeman has never been one of my favorite actors, and I'm sorry to say this doesn't really change my opinion of him. It's a sad, sorry, bland role. The movie isn't much different from any other crime film, but that's not what sets Shawshank aside from the rest, in my opinion what sets it aside is the certain style it has. It must have been the year for stylish movies. Forrest Gump, 4 Weddings, Ed Wood, Pulp Fiction and this. Although Sometimes melodramatic, like at the end when Andy dances in the rain, Shawshank is still a great movie, and very entertaining. I'd give it my applause.